A great memorization tool

This is our memory box

Inside the box are scripture verses that I hope to have the kids (and myself) memorize. I was looking for a "system" to use in the mornings during our bible time before we start school and found this on a homeschooling curriculum website :)  It is way to difficult to explain the system but if interested go to the website and watch the video. Very intriguing! And I think it would work on anything you wish to memorize. I have also added our phone number, address, etc. to go over with Presley and Caleb regularly to get them to learn those things :)

I like the quote that they say on the site.

"Hiding God’s Word in your heart is not a race; it’s a lifelong habit".

A look back....

These old pictures...

:)

My dad (left) and my Uncle Punky (right). Doesn't Caleb resemble Punky?

And me... look Presley and I have the same hair style 

:)

(I couldn't for the life of me get this picture to rotate) 

 

Happy Friday!

Love, Spiderman

(I am the mom that let this kid wear this all day, in public).

 

Eyes

Yesterday Cohen had his routine eye exam and I am so happy to say that his vision has not gotten worse :)  It is where it was last year! They did say his astigmatism is pretty bad (his eye is shaped like a football instead of a circle which affects vision, causes pain, etc) but thankfully the glasses correct that and help him so much.

Presley and Caleb joined us... and were amazed by the equipment, and the chair that moved up and down :)

Some things

Here are some things I want to remember about each child at this season of their life :) 


Cohen
He is a solid almost 60 pounds!

He has been on his gluten free milk free diet for 4 months and we are loving it, and never going back, well never say never, but I don't see an end in the near future it is benefiting him so much :)  (those who don't believe in it or think it doesn't work, Cohen is a walking testimony!) He even knows it helps him to the point you can put chocolate in front of him and he will politely decline!

Loving homeschool. I told him all his friends would be going to real school next year and how that made him feel and he said "nope, I want to stay here"  (not like he had a choice anyway) but was curious in his feelings about it.

He is doing well on his presentations each week at CC and learning so much there!

Loves The Boxcar Children series. We read one chapter book in 4 days and went to the library to get the next one right away!

Still does guitar lessons :)

Still loves his chicken (gf) and honey mustard. His favorite food as we all know!


Loves his buddy Jax, a lot.



Caleb
Loves his little sister, he taught her to say "I love you". I catch him teaching her things daily!

Does not enjoy doing school. but loves Tot School where he goes twice a week :)

Says he wants to play drums when he turns 4 where Cohen takes lessons.

Can't wait unil he is 4 so he can participate in sports at the Y.

Tells me I look like a princess. So sweet. He even drew me a princess the other day and said it was me. :) He flatters me!

Doesn't eat, we are surprised he is still alive today.

His favorite book: the Jesus Storybook.  

Loves CC nursery and looks forward to it every week. His best friend there is Caris :)

Loves to color, he may be an artist!


 Presley Jean
Our eating child, she eats most things and is not picky! She is starting to love honey mustard like her older brother.

She too loves to color!

Team Umizoomi is by far her most favorite TV show, she watches it on the computer when the boys do school :)

Loves her babydolls. She "shhs" them and rocks them!

Wheels on the bus is her favorite song. 

Favorite book is one with nursery rhymes and loves for us to sing it!

Loves CC nursery as well! 

Calls Grammy "mimi".  I don't know if she will ever call her Grammy like the other two children do.

Has finally learned how to say "yes".  No was her answer for everything!

Tries to potty like a boy... that's all she has seen apparently. We will work on it when officially potty training!

These children are such a blessing to us. I am beyond thankful that I get to see and spend every single day with them and watch them grow and learn in so many ways. Love love love them!

 

Justification

"Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners, in which he pardons all their sins, accepts and accounts their persons righteous in his sight; not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ, by God imputed to them, and received by faith alone." ~ Westminster Larger Catechism

Recipes

Before the winter storm Zach had asked me to make sure I had plenty of stuff to make goodies and treats if we were snowed in. He is so funny :) Thankfully I love to bake and make new things. So I searched Pinterest and my favorite recipe blogs.  Two of the things I made he said were SOO good so I figured I would share. :)

French Toast Dip

Shopping List

1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese, softened (not reduced fat or fat-free!)

1 stick of butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 tablespoons maple syrup

1 cup butterscotch chips

1 cup toffee bits

chocolate graham crackers for dipping

 

Using an electric mixer, cream butter and cream cheese together in a medium sized bowl.  Beat in powdered sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and syrup.  Stir in butterscotch chips and toffee bits.  Chill until ready to eat.  Serve with chocolate graham crackers. 

Strawberry Buttermilk Cupcakes  {His FAVORITE}

Shopping List

For the cupcakes:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup of chopped strawberries

For the frosting:

1/2 cup butter, softened

3 cups powdered sugar

A splash or two of buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup of chopped strawberries

 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Line 2 (12 count) muffin tins with paper liners.

In a large mixing bowl, cream your butter and sugar together.  Next, beat in one egg at a time.  Beat in your vanilla.

In a second large bowl, combine your flour, baking soda and salt together with a spoon.

Slowly beat in a little of the flour mixture into your butter mixture.  Then beat in a little buttermilk.  Repeat two or three times or until everything is incorporated.  Do not over beat your batter.

Stir in your strawberries.

Fill each cupcake liner 2/3 of the way full of batter.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Let cupcakes rest in pan 10 minutes before removing them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

To make your frosting, beat your butter with powdered sugar.  Add in a splash of buttermilk.  Add more buttermilk if your frosting is too thick and more powdered sugar if it's too thin.  Once it reaches the desired consistency, stir in your vanilla and chopped strawberries.

Frost cooled cupcakes.  Keep any leftovers refrigerated.

Part muffin, part cupcake, part pancake!

 

(both from mixandmatchmama.blogspot.com)

 

Snow Day # 2

We had another fun day playing in the snow. The kids started at 9am and went for hours :) So thankful for our neighbors to play with us :) 

These two.... Caleb and Noelle are the best of friends!

Beautiful Jericho

Believe it or not, this is the SAME sled Zach used as a kid! We found it under our house last year and put it back to good use :)

 

Presley Jean, still hated the snow.

Snow Day 2014

We had another fun snow day, except this was almost 2 FEET of snow :) Zach had off and we all enjoyed it! The kids went in and out all day long playing in the snow! 

Cohen and Duke making their way up the hill.

We also did blocks and read the Boxcar Children

Caleb, is our snow bunny! This kid stayed out most of the day.

The four wheeler has really been fun in all this snow! Z pulled us all (including me) with a sled tied to the back. :)

The boys sledding!

I think Zach forgot he was recording (ignore the last part of the video) :)

 

Caleb in the Kitchen

This guy is my main help in the kitchen! Caleb loves to help me make everything, from breakfast, lunch, dinner and of course desserts. He loves to stir, mix, pour and taste test :)

 

My kitchen time would be so boring without him!

{The average family will plan, shop, cook, and clean up more then 1,000 meals just this year}

Thankfully, I have a buddy to help me!

Our Facebook Video

Facebook is now doing something where it collects pictures I have posted the last few years and made a video. :)  Here is the link! You don't have to have facebook to view it!

Harris Facebook Video

I only post a few times a year but at least they had something to work with

:)

A glimpse in CC

I love when other moms show their pictures from Cohen's class because it gives me a glimpse in there :) Because I tutor I can't ever be in there with him like the other moms.. clearly he is still feeling loved :) (There are 2 boys in his class and SEVEN girls!) 

Sometimes I can peek in during his presentation to watch but he does better when I dont :)